International
Biden announces the biggest change in the military alliance with Japan in almost 65 years
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced the restructuring of the US military command in Japan to facilitate coordination with the Japanese forces, in what is the biggest change in the defense alliance of both countries in almost 65 years.
“This is the most significant improvement in our alliance since it was established,” Biden said at the White House during a press conference with the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida.
The restructuring of the US military command in Japan is the biggest update of the security alliance between Tokyo and Washington since it entered into force in 1960, and occurs at a time when both countries seek to cope with China’s boom.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, assured that security and defense collaboration with the United States is key to avoiding a situation in the future similar to Ukraine.
“Today is Ukraine and tomorrow it may be the Asia-Pacific area,” the Japanese Prime Minister said at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden from the White House.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced a strengthening of space collaboration with Japan for a Japanese astronaut to reach the Moon, whose soil so far only American astronauts have stepped on.
“We will improve our ties in science, technology and education so that Japanese astronauts can integrate into American space missions. And one of them will be the first non-American astronaut to step on the Moon,” he said.
Biden and Kishida, pledged to defend a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, alluding to the rise of China and its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The leaders made these statements at the beginning of their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House.
Although they did not explicitly mention China, they made it clear that the strengthening of their alliance in military and technological matters has its sights set on the Asian giant.
Biden, the first to speak, spoke of the strength of the alliance between the two countries and said that they will talk about how to increase cooperation in defense and technology, among other areas.
“We will also analyze how we can continue to improve to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, open and prosperous in the world,” Biden said.
Next, Kishida spoke of the “robust ties” of the alliance and the “friendship” that personally unites him with Biden.
He has met with him on numerous occasions and this Wednesday he was received at the White House with a state visit, an honor that Washington reserves for its closest allies.
“Japan and the United States are now at the forefront of maintaining and strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” said Kishida, who, as on other occasions, avoided mentioning China.
During the summit, Biden and Kishida plan to announce 70 defense cooperation agreements, including plans to restructure the US military command in Japan and facilitate cooperation with Japanese forces in the event of a crisis.
That change will be the biggest update of the security alliance between Japan and the United States since it came into force in 1960, and will take place at a time when Washington seeks to strengthen its alliances with other countries in the region to counter China.
The two leaders are also expected to announce agreements to allow further joint development of military and defense equipment, as well as plans for a joint space mission to reach the Moon and research projects in artificial intelligence, according to US officials.
After their meeting in the Oval Office, both leaders plan to hold a press conference.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
International
U.S. considering airstrikes on military sites in Venezuela, reports say
The United States may soon carry out airstrikes on military facilities inside Venezuela as part of an escalating offensive against Nicolás Maduro’s regime, according to reports Friday from the Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the Trump administration.
Airstrikes could take place “within days or even hours,” the Herald reported. The Journal noted that while the option is under serious consideration, President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on authorizing strikes on Venezuelan soil.
Potential targets allegedly include military-controlled ports and airports used in drug trafficking operations, such as naval installations and airstrips, officials told the Journal.
The Herald also quoted a source saying that “Maduro’s time is running out”, suggesting that more than one Venezuelan general may be ready to detain and hand him over. However, officials declined to confirm whether the Venezuelan leader would be among the military targets.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to block the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, following nearly two months of airstrikes against vessels in the Pacific and the Caribbean. Those operations have destroyed 15 boats and left 61 people dead and three survivors since September 1.
“We are finally waging a war against the cartels — a war like they’ve never seen before — and we are going to win that battle. We are already winning at sea,” Trump told U.S. troops during a speech in Japan.
The reports on possible airstrikes come on the same day the United Nations accused the U.S. of violating international law with its maritime operations, saying those killed at sea may have been victims of extrajudicial executions.
International
Pope Leo XIV revives Global Compact on Education to confront cultural crisis
Pope Leo XIV announced on Friday that he will revive and update the Global Compact on Education, an initiative launched by the late Pope Francis aimed at deeply transforming global culture through education.
The announcement was made during an audience in St. Peter’s Square, held on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Educational World, which this week gathers more than 20,000 participants from 124 countries in Rome.
During his address, the pontiff — who is of U.S. origin and Peruvian nationality — emphasized the importance of restoring the value of educators and reinforcing the principles that support the pact.
“We must be careful: damaging the social and cultural role of educators means mortgaging our own future,” he warned before thousands in attendance. “A crisis in the transmission of knowledge leads to a crisis of hope.”
The Global Compact on Education, launched by Pope Francis, seeks an integral and long-term cultural transformation. It is structured around five pillars: dignity and human rights; fraternity and cooperation; technology and integral ecology; education for peace and citizenship; and culture and religions. To date, the initiative has been joined by over 553 schools and nearly 410,000 students, according to Catholic Schools data.
Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern over the widespread inner fragility affecting both students and teachers — many of whom feel overwhelmed by bureaucratic burdens.
He additionally addressed the role of artificial intelligence in education, warning that it may worsen emotional isolation among learners: “It can further isolate students who are already isolated, giving them the illusion that they do not need others — or worse, the feeling that they are unworthy of them,” he said.
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. considering airstrikes on military sites in Venezuela, reports say
Pope Leo XIV revives Global Compact on Education to confront cultural crisis
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